Fracking for oil and natural gas is transforming the way the United States powers its economy. A flood of low-priced natural gas has undercut new nuclear plants and nudged utilities to pull the plug on old ones. Cheap gas also has stolen market share from coal and also hit renewable sources of power such as wind and solar. Now the fracking bonanza is spreading to China and beyond. With the U.S. poised to become the world’s largest petroleum producer in a few years, the world’s new energy equation could undermine OPEC and profoundly alter the geopolitical balance of power.

Russell Gold’s new book The Boom illustrates Texas oilmen and Oklahoma wildcatters who developed and perfected hydraulic fracturing technology that ushered in a new era of American industry. Tervor Houser’s new book Fueling Up examines the economics of fracking. Join us for a conversation about the most powerful force in today’s energy economy.